Workplace nurseries saved in HMRC

A PCS member

Following a month of solid and well-organised campaigning, two workplace nurseries in the revenue and customs civil service department (HMRC) have been saved from closure. PCS union members in East Kilbride and Cardiff have achieved a massive victory.

This is in spite of the department categorically stating the decision could not be reversed.

In the current climate of blaming the poor and low paid for all the worlds' ills, this victory shows we can fight back against these types of attacks.

Six other nurseries are now under threat of closure by 30 November but PCS members in Leicester, Leeds, Salford and Nottingham are continuing their campaign.

Boosted by the victories in East Kilbride and Cardiff, they will be organising more protest actions over the next week - culminating in a further day of action on 17 October.

PCS members in HMRC will be taking their protest to Whitehall to coincide with a planned lobby of parliament on the day.

With 80% of the cuts still to come, parents, and women in the main, will be expected to bear the brunt.

We need to be developing campaigns and key demands within the trade union movement to take up these issues.

We will build on this important campaign and make it increasingly difficult for our employer to roll back all the gains made for family friendly workplaces.